PHYSICS
MEASUREMENTS
Units of Measurement
The measurements of physical quantities are
expressed in terms of units, which are
standardized values.
Units of Measurement
There are two major systems of units used in the
world: SI units (acronym for the French Le Système
International d’Unités, also known as the metric
system), and English units (also known as the imperial
system). English units were historically used in nations
once ruled by the British Empire. Today, the United
States is the only country that still uses English units
extensively. Virtually every other country in the world
now uses the metric system, which is the standard
system agreed upon by scientists and mathematicians.
Units of Measurement
All physical quantities in the International System of
Units (SI) are expressed in terms of combinations of
seven fundamental physical units, which are units
for: length, mass, time, electric current,
temperature, amount of a substance, and luminous
intensity.
All other units are made by mathematically
combining the fundamental units. These are
called derived units.
FUNDAMENTAL UNITS
Quantity Name Symbol
Length Meter m
Mass Kilogram kg
Time Second s
Electric current Ampere a
Temperature Kelvin k
Amount of substance Mole mol
Luminous intensity Candela cd
See Unit Conversion Tables
Table 1 Multiples and Submultiples of SI Units
Table 2 Length Units
Table 3 Area Units
Table 4 Volume Units
Table 5 Mass Units
Table 6 Density Units
Table 7 Volumetric Liquid Flow Units
Table 8 Volumetric Gas Flow Units
Table 9 Mass Flow Units
Table 10 High Pressure Units
Table 11 Low Pressure Units
Table 12 Speed Units
Table 13 Torque Units
Table 14 Dynamic Viscosity Units
Table 15 Kinematic Viscosity Units
Table 16 Temperature Conversion Formulas
Activity & Example
You are mixing some concrete for a home project,
and you've calculated according to the directions
that you need six gallons of water for your mix.
But your bucket isn't calibrated, so you don't
know how much it holds. On the other hand, you
just finished a two-liter bottle of soda. If you use
the bottle to measure your water, how many
times will you need to fill it?
Ans. 11.355 bottles
Activity & Example
Suppose you are driving a Ferrari at
66 ft/sec. The over speed limit is
50miles/hour, are you over the speed
limit? What is your Velocity in terms of
miles/hour?
Ans. 45miles/hour
Thank You!